Lancing device

Abstract

A lancing mechanism is adapted to move between a resting, cocking and a puncture position. The lancing mechanism comprises a lancet holder adapted to receive a lancet, a shaft attached to the lancet holder, at least one drive spring and at least one damping spring. The drive spring surrounds at least a portion of the shaft and drives the lancing mechanism from the cocking position to the puncture position. The damping spring moves the lancing mechanism from the puncture position to the resting position. The drive spring is located at least partially within the damping spring.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A lancing device comprising:
 a main housing including a spring stop, the spring stop being adjacent to a first end of the main housing, the main housing forming an inner cavity enclosing a portion of a lancing mechanism, the lancing mechanism including a lancet holder adapted to receive a lancet and a shaft fixed to the lancet holder, the lancet holder being spaced from the spring stop, the lancing mechanism further including at least one drive spring being detached from the spring stop, the at least one drive spring being adapted to drive the lancing mechanism from a cocking position to a puncture position, the lancing mechanism further including two damping springs being attached to and positioned between each of the lancet holder and the spring stop, the two damping springs being adapted to move the lancing mechanism from the puncture position to a resting position; and 
 a movable housing adjacent the main housing, the movable housing being adapted to move the lancing mechanism from the resting position to the cocking position. 
 
     
     
       2. The lancing device of  claim 1 , wherein a spring rate of the at least one drive spring is greater than a spring rate of each of the two damping springs. 
     
     
       3. The lancing device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one drive spring at least partially surrounds the shaft of the lancing mechanism. 
     
     
       4. The lancing device of  claim 3 , wherein the two damping springs at least partially surround both the at least one drive spring and the shaft of the lancing mechanism. 
     
     
       5. The lancing device of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one drive spring is free-floating along the shaft of the lancing mechanism. 
     
     
       6. The lancing device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one drive spring is attached to the lancet holder. 
     
     
       7. The lancing device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one drive spring is between the two damping springs during the resting position, the cocking position, and the puncture position. 
     
     
       8. The lancing device of  claim 1 , wherein the lancet holder is adjacent to a second end of the main housing opposite the first end of the main housing when the lancing mechanism is in the puncture position.